INA Memorial Moirang

Written By dManipur on Saturday, 23 June 2012 | 10:34

The Indian National Army (INA) Complex is located at Moirang, a town in Bishnupur District, around 45 KM from Imphal. This complex has a historical significance and associated with a very important event in the Indian freedom struggle and World War II.

INA Martyrs Memorial complex at Moirang was established in 1985. The complex has a museum and a library. The complex has a statue of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and a museum which exhibits letters, photographs, badges of ranks and other articles associated with the INA movement. Tourists, particularly from Japan, regularly visit the memorial complex to pay homage to their forefathers who had lost their lives in Manipur during World War II. The Japanese government has decided to construct a hospital in the memory of their forefather who died in Manipur during the war. Since its inception, the office of the Memorial has been organizing annually the Birthday of Netaji (23rd January), Flag Hoisting Day (14th April), and the Azad Hind Hukumat Day.

Historical Background

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose motivated his young army possessed by the idea of total freedom to the motherland from the clutches of British. He form the Indian National Army also called as Azad Hind Fauj. Azad Hind's military forces in the form of the INA saw some successes against the British, and moved with the Japanese army to lay siege to the town of Moirang. This is the first place in Indian soil where Netaji hoisted the Indian tri-color flag for the first time in April 14,1944, and Moirang became the unofficial headquarters of INA. Plans to march towards Delhi, gaining support and fresh recruits along the way, stalled both with the onset of monsoon season and the failure to capture Imphal. British bombing seriously reduced morale, and the Japanese along with the INA forces began their withdrawal from India. This Place in Moirang where Netaji unfulred the Indian flag first time had been later developed as INA Complex.

The Museum in the INA Complex

The Complex has a life size statue of Netaji and a Memorial Musuem. The Museum displays various letters, photographs, badges of ranks and other memorabilis reminding the noble sacrifices made by the INA.

Tourists, particularly from Japan and England, regularly visit the memorial complex to pay homage to their forefathers who had lost their lives in Manipur during World War II. The Japanese government have come one step forward to construct a Hospital in the memory of their forefather who died in Manipur during the war.

The Union Tourism Ministry has recently sanctioned the first installment of `12 crore for upgradation of the 'Indian National Army memorial complex mega project', at the popular tourist destination in Moirang near Imphal, Manipur. The total cost of the project is pegged at `25 crore.